Hospitality was an expected part of the ancient Greece culture due to the strictly followed guidelines of Xenia, but this generosity was not always appreciated, welcomed, or respected. Although it would be nice to say that these upstanding citizens welcomed strangers into their homes out of the goodness of their hearts, it is more likely their actions were out of fear of the gods or stranger's wrath and social death. Hospitality should be something coming from the heart instead of an obligation forced upon us, but this pressure has morphed our reasonings due to fears of shame. In the ancient Greece culture, hospitality was expected as part of a survival need, because “without such hospitality, strangers could be captured or even killed for
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Due to this we see Odysseus offer the finest wine to the foreboding Cyclops, in book 9 of the Odyssey, in order to appease his wrath and ensure their safe stay in his cave of death the crew intruded. In return, the Cyclops responded: “tell me your name this very minute! [and] I will give you a stranger's gift which will make you very happy.” The gifts were exchanged, but the “stranger's gift” turned out to be the pleasure of being the last eaten among his crew- which wasn't a gift but more of a punishment for our hero Odysseus. Unlike most people, the Cyclops was not afraid to break the laws of Xenia or of the stranger’s nor the gods’ wrath- that was known to follow being a cruel host- because he was the son of Poseidon. This allowed him to bully the visitors as he pleased, with no fear of consequence. But in reality, neither host, nor guest was safe from harm in the end because Odysseus blinded the beast and in return got the wrath of Poseidon, making his journey home a long struggle. Although the Cyclops didn’t feel the pressure to follow Xenia he also didn’t have a trace of warmth in his heart, making him a heartless …show more content…
She was getting trampled by the herd of swarming suitors that were as greedy and unthoughtful as children who don’t know any better. “All want to marry [her, and]... She hates the thought of it, but she neither denies nor dares to make an end to the matter” in fear of stirring up more trouble, digging their reputation’s grave, and angering the gods (Homer, pg. 16). When Penelope and her son Telemachus finally try to get rid of the suitors, they walk on eggshells- carefully, civil, and relatively honorably- only to be called out and shamed by suitors: “You are a boaster… you don’t know how to keep your temper!... Cry shame on us… you cannot find fault with us for paying court to” you (Homer, pg. 24). These visiting suitors were ungrateful in their ways, relentless in their greed, and unappreciative of their kind hosts that have offered the kindness of Xenia with nothing in return. Penelope offered as much kindness as her grieving heart could handle while the suitors forced themselves upon her, showing no true love or desire to build a loving relationship with her. Eventually they pay the price when Odysseus returns to punish them for their lingering and destruction of the disjointed family's wealth and
Due to this we see Odysseus offer the finest wine to the foreboding Cyclops, in book 9 of the Odyssey, in order to appease his wrath and ensure their safe stay in his cave of death the crew intruded. In return, the Cyclops responded: “tell me your name this very minute! [and] I will give you a stranger's gift which will make you very happy.” The gifts were exchanged, but the “stranger's gift” turned out to be the pleasure of being the last eaten among his crew- which wasn't a gift but more of a punishment for our hero Odysseus. Unlike most people, the Cyclops was not afraid to break the laws of Xenia or of the stranger’s nor the gods’ wrath- that was known to follow being a cruel host- because he was the son of Poseidon. This allowed him to bully the visitors as he pleased, with no fear of consequence. But in reality, neither host, nor guest was safe from harm in the end because Odysseus blinded the beast and in return got the wrath of Poseidon, making his journey home a long struggle. Although the Cyclops didn’t feel the pressure to follow Xenia he also didn’t have a trace of warmth in his heart, making him a heartless …show more content…
She was getting trampled by the herd of swarming suitors that were as greedy and unthoughtful as children who don’t know any better. “All want to marry [her, and]... She hates the thought of it, but she neither denies nor dares to make an end to the matter” in fear of stirring up more trouble, digging their reputation’s grave, and angering the gods (Homer, pg. 16). When Penelope and her son Telemachus finally try to get rid of the suitors, they walk on eggshells- carefully, civil, and relatively honorably- only to be called out and shamed by suitors: “You are a boaster… you don’t know how to keep your temper!... Cry shame on us… you cannot find fault with us for paying court to” you (Homer, pg. 24). These visiting suitors were ungrateful in their ways, relentless in their greed, and unappreciative of their kind hosts that have offered the kindness of Xenia with nothing in return. Penelope offered as much kindness as her grieving heart could handle while the suitors forced themselves upon her, showing no true love or desire to build a loving relationship with her. Eventually they pay the price when Odysseus returns to punish them for their lingering and destruction of the disjointed family's wealth and